Signs and Symptoms of Venous Disease

Venous disease is one of the most common conditions affecting our health. Although many people have visible varicose veins, many others have no visible signs of the disease. Patients without visible signs of venous disease may have symptoms such as leg pain (aching or cramping), leg heaviness or fatigue, swelling, throbbing, burning, itching or tenderness. Some people also experience restless legs.

Men and women of all ages can be affected by venous disease. Although it has a strong genetic component, there are certain risk factors that can also contribute to its development. These include obesity, pregnancy, prior trauma, surgery, lifestyle and occupations that require prolonged standing.

Venous disease can be easily diagnosed with an Ultrasound performed in the office. If you experience any symptoms of the disease, you need to make sure that your physician is aware. Venous disease can be a serious medical condition which left untreated, can lead to long standing complications. These may include venous stasis dermatitis which is tissue damage to the overlying skin causing reddish brown hard thick leathery changes to the skin. Venous stasis ulcers are another complication of untreated venous disease caused by long standing pooling of blood in the affected veins.

Treatment can help manage the disease and improve the overall health and appearance of your legs as well as greatly improve your quality of life.